I successfully completed ID verification last month. Here's what worked for me: • Called 800-830-5084 at exactly 7:01am (right when they opened) • Wait time was only 12 minutes (vs 2+ hours when I tried at noon) • Had these ready: photo ID, social security card, tax return, and the letter • Answered questions about previous addresses and loans • Agent confirmed my identity in about 10 minutes • Refund appeared 9 days later Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing your early morning strategy @Yuki Tanaka! That 7:01am tip is gold - makes total sense that wait times would be shorter right when they open. For anyone else dealing with this, I'd also recommend having a backup plan ready. If you can't get through by phone after a few attempts, don't panic. You can also verify your identity in person at a Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC). You'll need to make an appointment first by calling 844-545-5640, but sometimes it's faster than playing phone tag. One more thing - keep checking your IRS online account or transcript after verification. The hold code (570) should disappear within a few business days, and then your refund will process. The whole thing is annoying but definitely manageable if you're prepared!

I'm a little confused... if you and your wife are still together, why did you choose Married Filing Separately instead of Married Filing Jointly? MFJ usually gives better tax benefits in most situations, especially when one spouse isn't working. You might actually get an even bigger refund if you change to MFJ.

This is exactly why I always double-check the actual PDF forms before submitting, even when using tax software. TurboTax has had issues with their conditional logic causing unexpected changes to filing status - it's happened to several people I know. Since you've confirmed that the submitted forms show "Single" instead of "Married Filing Separately" and you're missing a dependent, you'll definitely need to file Form 1040-X (amended return). Don't wait for the IRS to process the incorrect return first - you can file the amendment even if the original hasn't been fully processed yet. Make sure when you prepare the 1040-X that you: 1. Change filing status from Single to Married Filing Separately 2. Add both children as dependents with their SSNs 3. Recalculate all applicable credits (Child Tax Credit, EITC, etc.) 4. Include a detailed explanation of the errors in Part III The good news is that since this was clearly a software error and not your mistake, the IRS should process the amendment without issues. It will take longer to get your refund (usually 16+ weeks for amended returns), but you should get the full amount you were originally expecting. Also consider filing a complaint with TurboTax - they should be aware that their software is making these critical errors during the filing process.

I went through this exact same thing earlier this year! Definitely do the ID.me verification online - it's way faster than trying to get an appointment at a TAC office. I had some issues with the facial recognition at first (make sure you're in really good lighting and remove any glasses), but once I got it working the whole process took maybe 30 minutes. After verification, my transcript updated within a week showing the hold was released, and I got my refund about 9 weeks later. Just be patient - I know it's frustrating but the online route is definitely your best bet for getting this resolved quickly!

I actually just completed this process about 3 weeks ago! Definitely go with the ID.me online verification - it's so much faster than trying to schedule an in-person appointment. The TAC offices are booking appointments like 4-6 weeks out right now, which defeats the purpose if you need your refund ASAP. For the online verification, make sure you do it during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) to avoid the wait queues. Have your driver's license, Social Security card, and a recent utility bill or bank statement ready. The facial recognition can be picky - I had to try it twice because the lighting in my room wasn't great the first time. Once I got verified, my account transcript updated within about 5 days showing the verification hold was released. Still waiting on my actual refund (they said 6-9 weeks from verification date), but at least I know it's processing now. Way less stressful than sitting on hold for hours or waiting weeks for an appointment!

Does anyone know if its better to max out HSA first or 401k? I have both W2 and 1099 income too and trying to figure out the optimal order.

Great question! I'm in a similar boat with mixed income sources. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you calculate your net self-employment income correctly for that 20% employer contribution. Don't forget to subtract: 1. Half of your self-employment tax (roughly 7.65% of your net SE income) 2. The employer contribution itself (it's a circular calculation) So if you have $130k in 1099 income, after business deductions and the SE tax adjustment, your actual contribution base will be lower. The effective rate usually works out to about 18.6% rather than the full 20%. Also, since you mentioned backdoor Roth - consider whether a solo 401k with Roth options might be better than trying to do backdoor Roth IRA conversions, especially if your income puts you over the IRA contribution phase-out limits. The solo 401k gives you more flexibility and higher contribution limits.

I completely understand the frustration with Form 3520 - it's one of the most anxiety-inducing forms to file because of the complete lack of confirmation from the IRS. After dealing with this for several years myself, here's what I've found works best: The certified mail approach is absolutely essential, but I also recommend keeping a detailed spreadsheet with filing dates, tracking numbers, and delivery confirmations. I photograph every page of the form before mailing and store everything digitally. One thing that helped me was calling the Practitioner Priority Service line (if you have a tax professional who can call on your behalf) - they sometimes have better access to information about specialty forms like 3520. Regular taxpayers can't use this line, but your CPA or enrolled agent can. Also, while Form 3520 doesn't typically show on standard transcripts, if you've been filing consistently and haven't received any penalty notices, that's usually a good sign they're receiving your submissions. The IRS is unfortunately very good at sending penalty letters when they think you haven't filed! For peace of mind going forward, consider working with a tax professional who specializes in international tax matters - they often have better systems for tracking these types of submissions and can provide additional documentation if needed.

I've been filing Form 3520 for several years and completely understand the anxiety about lack of confirmation. Here's what I've learned from experience and conversations with tax professionals: The reality is that Form 3520 operates in a different processing system than regular tax returns, which is why it rarely shows up on standard transcripts. The IRS processes these forms manually in a specialized unit, and they typically only send correspondence if there's an issue or penalty. My recommended approach combines several strategies mentioned here: 1) Always use certified mail with return receipt - this is your legal proof of timely filing 2) Include a detailed cover letter listing exactly what you're submitting 3) Keep digital copies of everything, including photos of the sealed envelope 4) Maintain a detailed log with dates, tracking numbers, and delivery confirmations For past submissions where you're unsure about receipt, the Claimyr service mentioned earlier actually does work - I was skeptical too but ended up using it successfully to confirm the IRS had received my forms from previous years. The key is getting through to the right department that handles international forms. One thing I'll add that hasn't been mentioned: if you have other international forms (like FBAR or Form 8938), keep all your international tax documentation together. Sometimes issues with one form can help resolve questions about others, and having everything organized makes it easier to work with tax professionals if needed. The bottom line is that if you've been filing consistently with proper documentation and haven't received penalty notices, your forms are likely being received and processed correctly, even without explicit confirmation.